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You are here: Home / All Posts / Mothering with my hands

Mothering with my hands

March 1, 2018 by Sheri

As I considered what to write this month, one thought came to rest in my mind.

I didn’t realize mothering is so physical.

That’s a strange thing to say, I know, considering I went through nine months of pregnancy and hours of painful labor to bring my little Anika into the world. But now I think I know why God gave her to me now.

For years I’ve been a writer. I worked with words every day, even if only inside my head. Now suddenly I have this bundle of humanity to carry and feed and bathe, and almost everything I do for her involves my hands and my body. She can’t read my stories or blog posts. She doesn’t care about my creativity or desire to reach readers with words. She wants to feel my arms around her, my warmth against her.

I love it. It feels like rebirth, birthing a child and caring for her through fussy nights and messy diapers. It reminds me of Jesus’ attention to the physical, how He healed with touch and mud and kind glances. It reminds me of how God cares for me like a newborn, except He nows exactly what each cry from my heart means. It fills me with awe that He designed families and parenting to show us more of Himself.

I’ll always be a writer, unless God tells me to stop. But for the rest of my life, and these next years especially, I’ll be a mother who loves with hands and arms and a soothing voice. And when I’m tempted to disappear completely into a world of words and storymaking, may my child remind me that I must also love those I can touch.

Have you ever begun a new phase of life that shows you truth in new ways?

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Comments

  1. Jebraun says

    March 6, 2018 at 6:20 pm

    Motherhood was an enourmous change for me! But these last few years as my offspring became older and more independent (24, 20, and 18) have been transformational as well. Almost like I’m rediscovering things about myself that were dormant for so long because of the necessity of being ‘hands on’ with my little ones. Writing disappeared for almost two decades but now is back with a passion! I’m thankful for the time and space to be creative.

    • Sheri says

      March 11, 2018 at 9:24 pm

      Thanks for your responding, Jeb! I actually thought of you while writing this. Your passion for writing encourages me that I’ll still want to when my children are more independent. 🙂 I can already see that this new experience brings inspiration for my writing, too.

  2. Lori says

    March 15, 2018 at 11:35 am

    Mothering is one of the greatest ways to exercise selflessness in life!! Bless you as you love on your lil one!

  3. Sheri Yutzy says

    March 16, 2018 at 8:59 pm

    I’m starting to see that too. 🙂 Thank you, Lori!

  4. KaLynn says

    March 18, 2018 at 1:39 am

    Be a mother is also very rewarding! So excited you are now a mother! Thank you for this beautiful post!

    • Sheri says

      March 27, 2018 at 4:52 pm

      Yes, it is! It’s a gift from God. 🙂 I love it. I’m glad you liked the post!

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About Sheri

Here Goes Something New!

Hi, I'm Sheri Yutzy. I love forests under the night sky, trying new foods, and drinking Irish tea.
I'm married to a musician who looks good in black, mama to two toddlers who love to eat, and happy resident of a Cape Cod cottage in Ohio.
I write YA fantasy and am acquisitions editor at sparkflashfiction.com.
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I know, it looks like I’ve only read fantasy thi I know, it looks like I’ve only read fantasy this year. This is not true, but they do make such lovely pictures. 🤩 Fantasy, especially YA fantasy, is the genre of my heart, and since my bookshelf space is limited, I tend to buy more of them. Did I mention they’re pretty?😅

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My best tip for finding magic everywhere?
Go out and catch a few children.
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What is a day for? I found myself pondering this q What is a day for?
I found myself pondering this question as I meditated on Scripture this morning. I love to achieve things, and sometimes I get lost in the maze of caring for little ones while wanting to get something—anything—done. I’m living a dream life, saving money every day (by not using daycare😅). Half the time it feels too good to be true, the other half it is just too real and never seems to end.
But this morning I was seeking silence before God and it occurred to me that what I was doing was the point of my days. I am here to love Him and be loved, and show my children how to love Him and be loved. And I can do that to better effect because of the many tiny tasks they need me to do for them. They’ll see His love in how I prepare their food, teach songs, finally make the Playdough they’ve been begging for.
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